Smartphone racing sailboat instrument and crowdsourced race tracking system

ABSTRACT

A sailboat race tracking system includes a race computer and a sailboat computing device authenticated to the race computer. The sailboat computing device transmits position data as a function of time to the race computer. An event organizer computing device sets a race start time and transmits the race start time to the race computer. The race computer receives the position data as a function of time from multiple sailboat computing devices and syncs it according to the race start time. The race computer transmits the time-synced position data of the sailboat computing devices to the sailboat computing devices and spectator computing devices for display.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a sailboat race trackingsystem, and more particularly to a sailboat race tracking system havingaspects for improving the start of the race, aspects for crowdsourcingand processing data of the race, and aspects for sharing and displayinginformation on the race to improve the racing experience forcompetitors, organizers, and spectators.

BACKGROUND

Sailboat races are complicated events that pose unique challenges to allparties involved including organizers, competitors, and spectators.Communication between organizers and sailboats on the open water is farmore difficult than over land, e.g. at the start of a track event. Thedistance between boats and the complicated logistics of the race makesimple verbal instructions and report (even with the help of a radio orsignal flags) an unsatisfactory method of communication. Thus,organizing the start of a race can be very challenging for eventorganizers.

Even a seemingly simple task like determining when a boat crosses thestart line can be quite difficult for organizers due to the fact thatthey must determine the starting line between the two starting marks andmaintain a proper angle to view the boats crossing the line while alsokeeping the start time in their field of view to register anyviolations. During this process, one boat might obstruct the organizer'sview of another boat, making it difficult to identify who crossed theline when. The rocking of organizer's boat and possible weatherconditions can further complicate this task. Thus, determining if therewas a penalty and assigning a penalty to the correct boat can be achallenging aspect of conducting a sailboat race.

The challenges faced by sailboats are numerous. The sailors must dotheir best to obtain the necessary information from the event organizersso that they can at least attempt to be in the right place at the righttime. Then they need to arrive at the start line just at the right timebefore the start of the race, and do so while reaching top speed rightbeforehand in order to get a strong start. The tasks being performed onthe sailboat are numerous and complex, each having a marginalcontribution to the boats performance. There is a seemingly limitlessamount of information that can be gathered and used to help improve theboats strategy in the race and its odds of winning. For example,starting infractions often occur due to a boat being over the startingline before the race start time. The penalty for an infraction may bedifferent depending on the starting system being used. So a boat needsto know the starting system, whether they were over the line, and whatthe penalty is as a result. If the boat needs to exonerate itself, notonly does the boat need to know this, but the information is alsorelevant to the other boats since it may affect their race strategy.Similarly, tasks like determining the exact location of the startingline and keeping track of the current positions of other boats in therace are a constant challenge for the competitors and can be a bigdistraction from the art of navigating the sailboat while reading thewind.

Sailboat races can be confusing to spectators as well. The spectatorneeds to know the location of the start line and course marks and haveaccurate time synced data on the positions of the sailboats in order toknow the current standings in the race. In addition, spectators want toknow if there is a penalty, and which boat received the penalty, so thatthe standings in the race can reflect this information. Given thetypically immense size of the course, it would be quite difficult tokeep track of the race using camera footage alone. Thus, a system fortracking a sailboat race is needed where spectators can view race dataso that they understand what is occurring in the race while it ishappening.

Aspects of the present invention are directed to overcoming these andother problems.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a sailboat racetracking system includes a race computer accessible viatelecommunication network at least a portion of which is wireless,multiple sailboat computing devices authenticated to the race computervia sailboat identification and event, and an event organizer computingdevice for setting a time indicative of a race start for the event. Thesailboat computing devices transmit position data as a function of timeto the race computer. The event organizer computing device transmits therace start time to the race computer. The race computer receives theposition data as a function of time from said plurality of sailboatcomputing devices and simultaneously transmits the position data of eachof the plurality of sailboat computing devices to at least one of theplurality of sailboat computing devices and a plurality of spectatorcomputing devices for display.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sailboat racestarting system includes a starting line extending from a first startingmark to a second starting mark along an ocean surface and a startingplane extending from the starting line in a direction orthogonal to theocean surface. A detector for detecting when a boat pierces the startingplane is disposed on or near the first starting mark. A notification isproduced when a boat pierces the starting plane. The system alsoincludes an identifier for identifying the boat that pierced thestarting plane, with the identifier producing an identification that istransmitted to a race computer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sailboat racetracking method for a plurality of user devices includes the steps ofproviding a user device running software for a sailboat race trackingsystem. Selecting via the user device user settings from the groupconsisting of racing sailboat, organizer, and spectator. Selecting orentering event and race settings. Collecting race data from the userdevice and storing it on a race computer. Processing the race data onthe race computer. Transmitting the race data to one or more userdevices for display.

In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the featuresdescribed above, further aspects of the present invention can includeone or more of the following features, individually or in combination:

-   -   The race computer time syncs the position data using the race        start time;    -   The event organizer computing device transmits a position of at        least one starting mark for the race to the race computer;    -   A position satellite transmits position data to at least one of        the the event organizer computing device and the plurality of        sailboat computing devices;    -   A race computer transmits the at least one starting mark        position to at least one of the plurality of sailboat computing        devices and the plurality of spectator computing devices for        display;    -   A plurality of event organizer computing devices, where each        transmits a position of at least one course mark for the race to        the race computer; and the race computer transmits the at least        one course mark position to at least one of the plurality of        sailboat computing devices and the plurality of spectator        computing devices for display;    -   The plurality of event organizer computing devices transmits a        position of a first starting mark and a second starting mark to        the race computer, the race computer determines a starting line        for the race, and the race computer transmits the starting line        to at least one of the plurality of sailboat computing devices        and the plurality of spectator computing devices for display;    -   At least one of the plurality of event organizer computing        devices receives an indication when any individual one of a        plurality of racing sailboats is over the starting line before        the race start time; and the at least one of the plurality of        event organizer computing devices determines a race start        penalty for the individual one of the plurality of racing        sailboats that was over the starting line before the race start        time;    -   The at least one of the plurality of event organizer computing        devices transmits the race start penalty for the individual one        of the plurality of racing sailboats to the race computer; and        the race computer transmits the race start penalty to at least        one of the plurality of sailboat computing devices and the        plurality of spectator computing devices for display;    -   The race computer stores the position data in a database        according to the race and event so that the race computer can        access the position data at a later time for transmission to at        least one of the plurality of sailboat computing devices and a        plurality of spectator computing devices for display;    -   At least one of the plurality of event organizer computing        devices transmits a starting system for each race of the event        to the race computer; and the race computer transmits the        starting system to at least one of the plurality of sailboat        computing devices and the plurality of spectator computing        devices;    -   Each of the plurality of sailboat computing devices indicates        when each of the individual ones of the plurality of racing        sailboats is over the starting line in contravention of the        starting system;    -   Each of the plurality of sailboat computing devices indicates        when after being over the starting line in contravention of the        starting system, the racing sailboat has successfully restarted        the race to at least partially exonerate itself;    -   The race computer calculates a distance to the starting line        using the position data and the starting line; the race computer        calculates a rate metric using the position data that is        indicative of the rate of progress toward the starting line for        a one of the plurality of racing sailboats; the race computer        calculates an estimated time until arrival at the starting line        using the rate metric and the distance to the starting line for        a one of the plurality of racing sailboats; and the estimated        time until arrival at the starting line and the race start time        are transmitted to at least one of the plurality of sailboat        computing devices and a plurality of spectator computing devices        for display;    -   A receiver disposed on or near the second starting mark, the        detector emits an at least one light ray propagating along the        starting plane and directed toward the receiver; and the        notification is produced upon the receiver not receiving the at        least one light ray;    -   The identifier scans a machine-readable code of the boat to        produce the identification;    -   The identifier reads an RFID tag of the boat to produce the        identification;    -   The identifier reads an AIS transceiver of the boat to produce        the identification;    -   The user device is a sailboat user device and the user settings        are for a racing sailboat, the method also includes the steps of        transmitting race data from sensors in communication with the        sailboat user device to the race computer indicating position        and time, time syncing the race data pertaining to position and        time on the race computer, and transmitting the time synced        position and time data to one or more user devices for display;    -   The user device is an organizer boat user device and the user        settings are for an organizer, the method further comprising the        steps of: transmitting race data from the organizer boat user        device to the race computer, the race data including one or more        of race and course details, virtual flags and signals, starting        mark positions, start system, start time, course mark positions,        start penalties, exonerated boats, and finishes, processing the        data from the organizer boat user device on the race computer        and transmitting it to one or more user devices for display;    -   The race computer calculates a start line from the starting mark        positions and transmits it to one or more user devices for        display;    -   The race computer calculates a distance to the start line and        transmits it to one or more user devices for display;    -   The race data from the organizer boat user device includes the        start time, and the start time is displayed on a sailboat user        device with the distance to the start line and boat speed;    -   The race data from the organizer boat user device includes        virtual flags and signals, and the virtual flags and signals        indicate at least one of shortened course and race abandoned,        which is displayed on a sailboat user device;    -   The race data from the organizer boat user device includes the        start system, and the start system is displayed on a sailboat        user device with at least one of the speed, heel, and heading of        the boat;    -   The event organizer computing device is a smartphone.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent inlight of the drawings and detailed description provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a sailboat race tracking system according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a combination of a flow chart and schematic of a sailboat racetracking method as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a user device showing user settings according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a user device showing race data according to the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a schematic of a system for providing an aid to organizersfor the start of a sailboat race.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the system of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method according to the system of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method for providing an aid to sailboats forthe start of a sailboat race.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a sailboat race tracking system 10 includes a racecomputer 12 accessible via telecommunication network at least a portionof which is wireless. The tracking system 10 includes multiple sailboatcomputing devices 14 authenticated to the race computer 12 via sailboatidentification and via event, e.g. with a login and password transmittedwith an event race registration. Each of the sailboat computing devices14 transmits their position as a function of time 16 to the racecomputer. The tracking system 10 includes an event organizer computingdevice, which sets a time indicative of a race start time 20 andtransmits it to the race computer 12. The race computer 12 can thendetermine the sync position data 22, i.e. synchronize the position &time 16 sent by the sailboat computing devices 14 to the race start timeso that the position data for each sailboat computing device is accuraterelative to each other sailboat computing device, so that the currentpositions of the boats in the race are accurate relative to each otherand the official time of the race. The time synced position data 24 isthen transmitted back to the sailboat computing devices 14 for displayby the competitors, and could also be transmitted to a spectatorcomputing device 26 for individuals attending the event or watching iton a TV or via their smart phone; or sent to the event organizercomputing device 18.

Referring to FIG. 1, the event organizer computing device 18 enters orverifies the starting mark position 28 and transmits this information tothe race computer 12. A position satellite 30 sends the event organizercomputing device 18 and/or sailboat computing device 14 their positionas a function of time. The race computer 12 transmits the mark position30 to the sailboat computing device 14 or spectator computing device 26for display. In an ideal embodiment, the race computer 12 receives bothstarting mark positions 28 from two different event organizer computingdevices 18, and then determines a starting line 32 for the race andtransmits the starting line 34 to the computing devices 14, 26, 18 fordisplay. A similar process occurs for the event organizer computingdevices 18 to send the course mark position 36 to the race computer 12,and the race computer 12 sends the mark position 30 to the computingdevices 14, 26, 18 for display. In other embodiments, the eventorganizer computing device 18 determines the starting line 32 andtransmits it to the race computer 12, or directly to the computingdevices 14, 26. In other embodiments, the sailboat computing device 14calculated the starting line using the starting mark position. In otherembodiments, the race computer 12, event organizer computing device 18,or sailboat computing device 14 calculate the race route or path, andtransmit this to the computing devices 14, 26, 18 for display.

Referring to FIG. 1, the time synced position data 24 may be usedtogether with visual inspections of the boats performed by the raceofficer 38, cameras situated around the course, or laser technology todetermine when an infraction occurs. The event organizer computingdevice 18 receives an indication (from any of these multiple sources) ofa start penalty 40 and transmits the start penalty 40 to the racecomputer 12, which then transmits the start penalty 42 to the computingdevices 14, 26, 18 for display. The event organizer computing device 18transmits the starting system 44 to the race computer 12, and thestarting system is transmitted 46 to the computing devices 14, 26, 18for display. In some sailing events, a boat must restart upon receivinga starting penalty. The race computer may reference the starting system44 received from the event organizer computing device 18, as well as thestart penalty 40, to determine a boat restart 48. The boat restart 50 issent to the computing devices 14, 26, 18 for display, allowing the boatthat received the penalty to know that they must restart. Upon asuccessful restart, the event organizer computing devices 18 indicate asuccessful restart and this information is sent to the race computer 12,where it is transmitted to the computing devices 14, 26, 18 so that theyare aware that the boat has successfully restarted the race to at leastpartially exonerate itself. In other embodiments, the penalty processfor any type of infraction received by a boat in the race can be enteredby the event organizer computing device 18 and sent to the computingdevices 26, 14, 18 either directly or via the race computer 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, a races by event database 52 stores the time-syncedposition data, as well as the event and race data, starting/course markposition, starting line position, penalty data, race results, footage orcommentary on the race, or any other data considered relevant to one ofskill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. The racesby event database 52 stores this information so that the race computer12 can access the data at a later time for transmission to the computingdevices 26, 14, 18 for display, e.g. to show highlights of the race viashort videos having digital animations of the boats alongside footage ofthe boats and racers and commentary explaining various aspects of therace like how the wind varied and what effect that had on variouscompeting sailboats.

In an ideal embodiment, the event organizer computing device 18 andsailboat computing device are smart phones or tablets, and the spectatorcomputing device 14 is either a smart phone, tablet, or television. Therace computer 12 can also be a smart phone, tablet, or computer. All thecomputing devices are connected to and communicating via a cellularnetwork/the internet. The race computer maintains a strong connection tothe network and the other computer to keep the system running even whensome of the other computing devices have a poor connection, which may beaccomplished by keeping the race computer 12 close to or on land andstationary. The smartphone may be fixedly mountable to a racing sailboatand including software interfaced to internal sensors/receivers of thesmartphone to display in customizable fashion on the smartphone screenracing parameters derived and/or calculated from the sensors/receivers,e.g. speed over ground, course over ground, heading, heel, pitch, andthe like; and to track and store in the smartphone memory, on atransitory or semi-permanent basis, at least position of the sailboat(smartphone) as a function of time.

In other embodiments, the race computer 12 is an event organizercomputing device 18. In other embodiments, the sailboat computing device14 can serve as both an event organizer computing device 18 and/or therace computer 12. In yet other embodiments, the entire system canfunction via one or two computing devices serving the role of the racecomputer 12, event organizer computing device 18, and sailboat computingdevice 14 all in one, e.g. if two boats wanted to have a friendly racebetween each other using the system 10 to organize and track the race.In yet other embodiments, the entire system can function as softwarewith or without real boats, e.g. in a video game. In other embodiments,position as a function of time is sent from the sailboat computingdevice 14 to the event organizer computing device 18 and/or spectatorcomputing device 26 and/or other sailboat computing devices 14. In sucha system the information may be rerouted to a different finaldestination, e.g. if one of a sailboat computing device 14 has poorservice or connection to a network it may send its position as afunction of time data to a nearby sailboat computing device 14 with astronger connection, such that the data can be sent to the race computer12 or other destination through that other sailboat computing device's14 connection.

Referring to FIG. 2, a sailboat race tracking system 10 is shown as acombination of a schematic and a flowchart. The system 10 involves auser device running software for a sailboat race tracking system. Theuser selects user settings 100 from the group consisting of organizer,sailboat, and spectator (an example of this selection is shown in FIG.3). If the user selects sailboat in step 100, the user will check-in andselect instrument display 102. The device displays sensor data for speedand position 104 and sends the information to the race computer 12. Theuser optionally enters the start marks and start time 106, which mayoptionally be sent to the race computer 12 or optionally gets processedlocally and/or used in combination with information from the racecomputer 12 to display the time and distance to the start line 110. Thestart line is calculated 112 and entered into the race computer 12. Therace computer 12 streams start system and start time, boat and markpositions, virtual flags, penalties, exonerated boats and finishes 114to the sailboat, which receives and displays the start system and time,boat and mark positions, virtual flags, penalties, exonerated boats andfinishes 116.

If the user selects event organizer in step 100, the user will createthe event and the race and generate notifications 118. Race days, times,and data 120 are then used to help devices register for the appropriaterace and event during step 100. During the race, the event organizerwill enter information including virtual flags and signals to sailboats& spectators 122 regarding what is occurring in the race. The eventorganizer will also select the start system, race time, andstarting/course mark positions 124, which are sent to the race computer12. The event organizer may either conduct certain aspects of the systemmanually or automatically, which is selected by the event organizer instep 126. If done automatically, the race computer determines startpenalties, exonerated boats, and finishes 132. If done manually, theevent organizer enters start penalties, exonerated boats, and finishes;which are sent to the race computer 12.

If the user selects spectator in step 100, the user can then select theevent and race 134 they would like to view. This information is sent tothe race computer 12, and the race computer streams start system andstart time, boat and mark positions, virtual flags, penalties,exonerated boats and finished 114 to the spectator. This may includevideo and audio clips, and information/charts detailing what ishappening or has happened in the race.

Referring to FIG. 3, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing userselections for boats 202, organizer 204, spectator 206, or settings 208.The user device 200 is a smart phone running an application according tothe system sailboat race tracing system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing thespeed 210 of the boat in knots, the race start time 212 in seconds, andthe distance to the start line 214. The start system 216 is shown via adisplay flag, in this case the display flag shown is the “I” flag.

Referring to FIG. 5, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing theheading 220 for a destination 222 (here, the destination is displayed isthe “First Mark”). The display 201 shows the distance 224 to the mark inmeters, and the direction 226 of the mark in degrees. A signal flag 228is shown on the display 201, the signal flag shown here is the “P” flag.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing theheading 220. The display 201 shows the starting line axis 230 indegrees, in this case the starting line is 40 degrees. A signal flag 228is shown on the display 201, the signal flag shown here is the “P” flag.

Referring to FIG. 7, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing theheading 220. The display 201 shows the Boats OCS 232, in this case “217”and “266” are shown. A left side signal flag 228 and a right side signalflag 229 are shown on the display 201. Here, the left signal flag 228 isthe “P” flag, and the right signal flag 229 is the “X” flag.

Referring to FIG. 8, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing theheading 220. The heading 220 of “009°” is shown. The heel 234 of “5°” isshown. The speed 210 of “6.2” knots is shown, and start system 216 isshown, in this case with the “Z” flag and “I” flag side by side.

Referring to FIG. 9, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing theheading 220. The display 201 shows a shortened course 236 notificationwith a signal flag, in this case the “S” flag. A right side signal flag229 is shown on the display 201, the right side signal flag shown hereis the “S” flag.

Referring to FIG. 10, a user device 200 has a display 201 showing theheading 220. The display 201 shows a Race Abandoned 238 notificationwith a signal flag, in this case the “N” flag. A left side signal flag228 and a right side signal flag 229 are shown on the display 201. Here,the left signal flag 228 is the “Z” flag, and the right signal flag 229is the “N” flag.

Referring to FIG. 11, a sailboat race starting system 300 is shown. Astarting line 302 extends from a first mark 304 to a second mark 306along an ocean surface. A starting plane 308 extends from the startingline 302 in a direction orthogonal to the ocean surface. A detector 310is disposed on the first mark 304 for detecting when a boat pierces thestarting plane 308. A receiver 312 is disposed on the second mark 306.The detector 310 emits light rays 314 propagating along the startingplane 308 and directed toward the receiver 312. Once the receiver 312receives the light ray 314 from the detector 310, communication isestablished between the two devices, such that as soon as an objectobstructs communication between the two devices 310, 312, the system 300detects that the starting plane 308 has been pierced or crossed by anobject, e.g. a boat. A notification (not shown) is produced when thestarting plane 308 is crossed, which, e.g. can be sent to the racecomputer 12 in the system of FIG. 1. An identifier 316 identifies theboat that crossed the starting line. For example, if the first boat 318crosses the starting plane 308, the identifier 316 would send out an RFsignal to the RFID tag 319 on the first boat 318 and determine itsidentity, and a notification would be sent to the race computer 12 sothat it can be determined if the first boat crossed the plane before thestart time of the race. The system 300 would continue to operate so thatwhen the second boat 320 and third boat 322 crossed the starting plane308, they also can be identified and their time of crossing istransmitted to the race computer 12 or similar functioning device.

In other embodiments, the identifier 316 and detector 310 may be thesame device. In yet other embodiments, the identifier 316 can read amachine readable code such as a QR code printed on the boat in order toidentify the boat. In yet other embodiments, the identifier 316 reads anAIS transceiver of the boat to produce the identification of the boat.

Referring to FIG. 12, the sailboat race starting system 300 is shownwith the first boat 318 crossing the starting plane 308. The receiver312 lies in the starting plane 308. As can be seen in the figure, theRFID can serve both to identify when the first boat 318 pierces thestarting plane 308 and also to identify that it was the first boat 318.In similar embodiments, it may be necessary to choose the location ofthe detector 310 and receiver 312 or focus their scanning areas tofunction, and it may be beneficial to the accuracy and functioning ofthe system 300 to include additional RFID scanners or detectors.

Referring to FIG. 13, a method demonstrating how the system 300functions is shown. The method starts 400 and the system establishes adetection plane between the detector and a reference point 402. Thesystem scans to detect if the plane is pierced 404. The systemdetermines if the boat pierces the plane 406. If a boat did not piercethe plane, then it continues to scan to detect if the plane is pierced404. If it did pierce the plane, then the system identifies the boatthat pierced the plane 408. The identity of the boat is returned to therace system 410. The system determines if this is the last boat in therace 412. If it is not the last boat in the race, the system continuesto scan to detect if the plane is pierced 404. If it is the last boat,then the method ends 414.

Referring to FIG. 14, a method is shown demonstrating a display featurefor use with the race tracking system 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The methodstarts 500 and the system receives coordinates of two starting marks andthe time remaining in the countdown sequence 502. The system calculatesthe starting line using the two starting marks 504. The system receivesthe boat position data and current boat location data 506. The systemcalculates the distance between the current boat location and startingline 508. Steps 510-514 are an optional part of the system, where thesystem calculates a boat rate metric (e.g. velocity made good or VMG)using position data and the starting line 510; the system calculatesestimated time until arrival at starting line 512; and the systemdisplays estimated time until arrival and time remaining in countdownsequence 514. The system displays distance to starting line 515. Thesystem determines if the boat has arrived at the starting line 516. Ifthe boat has not arrived at the starting line, the system continues tocalculate the distance between current boat location and the startingline 508. If the boat has arrived at the starting line the method ends518.

The sailboat race tracking system 10 offers several advantages overknown devices and system. The data selected by a sailor for display onthe smartphone screen replaces expensive and complicated wired andwireless instruments requiring professional installation, replacementbatteries, through-holes in the hull, poor screen visibility, and thelike. Most people charge their smartphones each evening and take themwherever they go as a matter of habit. Clipping it to a mount on thesailboat for this purpose will improve overall availability andreliability of sailboat racing instruments, and it will make it easierfor event organizers to manage and promote their sailboat racing events.The sailboat race tracking system allows sailboat position data to becrowdsourced, time synced, and displayed in real time for spectators orin replay for participants of the sailboat race. In this aspect,sailboat racing event organizers use the same smartphone software totime mark the start of each race, or more preferably the start of thecountdown sequence of each race. The time marks allow the crowdsourcedracing sailboats' track data to be time synced, edited and/or combinedinto individual races and/or starts on an automated basis for spectatorsand/or participant replay. Current racing sailboat scoring systems donot provide any data about terminated races and/or countdown sequences.

Other advantages include use of the sailboat race tracking system 10 asa sailboat race starting aid. In this respect position data relating tothe ends of the starting line can be used to calculate and display acourse axis. The course axis is an imaginary line perpendicular to theline defined by the ends of the starting line. Skilled sailors can usethe course axis together with their own wind readings, currentobservations, and the event organizers position of the race course marksto make a judgment about which end of the starting line is mostfavorable for the race. Similarly, the sailboat race tracking system 10allows for calculation of the starting line using the starting marks,such that the system may compare the racing sailboats' instantaneouspositions to the starting line in order to calculate a perpendiculardistance to the starting line. A skilled sailor can use this distancedisplayed on the smartphone screen together with the time remaining inthe countdown sequence to the start of the race and the racing sailboatsspeed in an attempt to be sailing full speed exactly at the startingline precisely when the race starts. It will be understood, that thecountdown timing to the start of the race can be provided by anddisplayed on the screen of the smartphone or can be provided by aseparate timing watch on the racing sailboat. If provided by thesmartphone, a sync function to reset the countdown sequence to thenearest minute so that an individual boats timing perfectly matches theevent organizer's timing is preferred.

Other advantages include that “pings” or crowdsourced entries for theposition of the marks of the race course can be set by the eventorganizer to enhance spectating and/or replay of the racing sailboat'stracks. In addition, the event organizer can use its own starting linepings or a crowdsourced version thereof from the accumulated data of theracing sailboats in order to assess starting penalties, e.g. forindividual racing sailboats that cross the starting line before thestart time in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing. Similarly,the use of a detector can be incorporated to automatically detect when aboat crosses a starting plane. RFID tags or QR codes can be located onthe boats such that the boats are automatically identified andassociated with their precise time of crossing the starting plane. Thiscan be used as a tool to help an event organizer determine startpenalties, or it can be used as part of an automated system such thatracing sailboats are notified individually or as a group when one ormore of them has crossed the starting line prior to the start incontravention to the Rules. Such notifications can be displayed on thesoftware-equipped smartphones of the racing sailboats.

While several embodiments have been disclosed, it will be apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the presentdisclosure that aspects of the present disclosure include many moreembodiments and implementations. Accordingly, aspects of the presentdisclosure are not to be restricted except in light of the attachedclaims and their equivalents. It will also be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosurethat variations and modifications can be made without departing from thetrue scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some instances,one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can beused alone or in combination with one or more features of one or moreother embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sailboat race tracking system comprising: arace computer accessible via telecommunication network at least aportion of which is wireless; a plurality of sailboat computing devicesauthenticated to said race computer via sailboat identification and viaevent; each of said plurality of sailboat computing devices transmittingposition data as a function of time to said race computer; an eventorganizer computing device for setting a time indicative of a race startfor the event; said event organizer computing device transmitting therace start time to said race computer; said race computer receiving theposition data as a function of time from said plurality of sailboatcomputing devices and said race computer time syncing the position datausing a time mark on the position data; said race computersimultaneously transmitting the time-synched position data of each ofthe plurality of sailboat computing devices to at least one of theplurality of sailboat computing devices and a plurality of spectatorcomputing devices for display.
 2. The sailboat race tracking system ofclaim 1 wherein said event organizer computing device transmits aposition of at least one starting mark for the race to said racecomputer.
 3. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 2 wherein aposition satellite transmits position data to at least one of the saidevent organizer computing device and the plurality of sailboat computingdevices.
 4. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 2 wherein saidrace computer transmits the at least one starting mark position to atleast one of the plurality of sailboat computing devices and theplurality of spectator computing devices for display.
 5. The sailboatrace tracking system of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of eventorganizer computing devices; said plurality of event organizer computingdevices each transmits a position of at least one course mark for therace to said race computer; and said race computer transmits the atleast one course mark position to at least one of the plurality ofsailboat computing devices and the plurality of spectator computingdevices for display.
 6. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 5wherein said plurality of event organizer computing devices transmits aposition of a first starting mark and a second starting mark to saidrace computer; said race computer determines a starting line for therace; and said race computer transmits the starting line to at least oneof the plurality of sailboat computing devices and the plurality ofspectator computing devices for display.
 7. The sailboat race trackingsystem of claim 6 wherein at least one of said plurality of eventorganizer computing devices receives an indication when any individualone of a plurality of racing sailboats is over the starting line beforethe race start time; and the at least one of said plurality of eventorganizer computing devices determines a race start penalty for theindividual one of the plurality of racing sailboats that was over thestarting line before the race start time.
 8. The sailboat race trackingsystem of claim 7 wherein the at least one of said plurality of eventorganizer computing devices transmits the race start penalty for theindividual one of the plurality of racing sailboats to the racecomputer; and said race computer transmits said race start penalty to atleast one of the plurality of sailboat computing devices and theplurality of spectator computing devices for display.
 9. The sailboatrace tracking system of claim 1 wherein the race computer stores theposition data in a database according to the race and event so that therace computer can access said position data at a later time fortransmission to at least one of the plurality of sailboat computingdevices and a plurality of spectator computing devices for display. 10.The sailboat race tracking system of claim 6 wherein at least one ofsaid plurality of event organizer computing devices transmits a startingsystem for each race of the event to said race computer; and said racecomputer transmits the starting system to at least one of the pluralityof sailboat computing devices and the plurality of spectator computingdevices.
 11. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 10 wherein eachof said plurality of sailboat computing devices indicates when each ofsaid individual ones of said plurality of racing sailboats is over thestarting line in contravention of the starting system.
 12. The sailboatrace tracking system of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality ofsailboat computing devices indicates when after being over the startingline in contravention of the starting system, the racing sailboat hassuccessfully restarted the race to exonerate itself of thecontravention.
 13. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 6, whereinthe race computer calculates a distance to the starting line using theposition data and the starting line; the race computer calculates a ratemetric using the position data that is indicative of the rate ofprogress toward the starting line for a one of the plurality of racingsailboats; the race computer calculates an estimated time until arrivalat the starting line using the rate metric and the distance to thestarting line for a one of the plurality of racing sailboats; and theestimated time until arrival at the starting line and the race starttime are transmitted to at least one of the plurality of sailboatcomputing devices and a plurality of spectator computing devices fordisplay.
 14. A sailboat race starting system, comprising: a startingline extending from a first starting mark to a second starting markalong an ocean surface; a starting plane extending from the startingline in a direction orthogonal to the ocean surface; a detector fordetecting when a boat pierces the starting plane by detecting theposition of the boat relative to the starting plane, the detectordisposed on or near the first starting mark; a notification producedwhen a boat pierces the starting plane; an identifier for identifyingthe boat that pierced the starting plane, the identifier producing anidentification, which is transmitted to a race computer.
 15. Thesailboat race starting system of claim 14, further comprising: areceiver disposed on or near the second starting mark; the detectoremits at least one light ray propagating along the starting plane anddirected toward the receiver; and the receiver being configured toreceive the at least one light ray from the detector, wherein the racecomputer receives the notification which is produced in response to thereceiver not receiving the at least one light ray.
 16. The sailboat racestarting system of claim 14, wherein the identifier scans amachine-readable code of the boat to produce the identification.
 17. Thesailboat race starting system of claim 14, wherein the identifier readsan RFID tag of the boat to produce the identification.
 18. The sailboatrace starting system of claim 14, wherein the identifier reads an AIStransceiver of the boat to produce the identification.
 19. The sailboatrace tracking system of claim 1 wherein said event organizer computingdevice is a smartphone.
 20. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 1wherein the system calculates a boat rate metric using the position dataand a race starting line.
 21. The sailboat race tracking system of claim20 wherein the system calculates estimated time until arrival at therace starting line.
 22. The sailboat race tracking system of claim 21wherein the system displays the estimated time until arrival at the racestarting line.
 23. The sailboat race starting system of claim 14 whereinthe system calculates a boat rate metric using a position data and thestarting line, calculates an estimated time until arrival at thestarting line, and displays the estimated time until arrival at thestarting line.